What is the Qur’an?

We can answer the question: “What is the Qur’an”, as follows…

The Qur’an is the book of guidance and the primary source for Muslims, which God gradually revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) in Arabic via the Angel Gabriel during the period 610-632 A.D in Makkah and Madinah.

It was revealed as the final Divine book of God’s words.

The ultimate aim of the Qur’an is to provide moral and spiritual guidance to mankind.

The pages of a Qur’an left open for devotional reading and recitation. Next to the Qur’an are traditional Muslim prayer beads.

Now let’s take a closer look at “What is the Qur’an”:

The Qur’an is the book that God gradually revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) in Arabic via the Angel Gabriel during the period 610-632 A.D in Makkah and Madinah.

The Qur’an was revealed as a means to correct and reform God’s previous Divine messages that had been historically altered or corrupted.

Hence it is a continuation of the core Divine message of the Bible (the Christian scripture) and the Torah (the Jewish scripture). Muslims believe the true meanings of these books were lost through the years and so the authentic Divine message became lost.

Thus the Qur’an was revealed not only to restore basic concepts such as the Oneness of God, correct laws for humanity to follow and the kind of deeds they should perform in order to become good servants of God, but also to advance the understanding of these concepts and the purpose of religion, in addition to reforming the moral ethical code of mankind.

Today the Qur’an has been translated into over 100 languages, including English. It is recited regularly by Muslims in their homes and mosques.

A more in-depth explanation of “What is the Qur’an”:

The Qur’an is the book that God gradually revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) in Arabic via the Angel Gabriel during the period 610-632 A.D in Makkah and Madinah, Arabia. The verses of the Qur’an were repeatedly memorised and writen down by the Prophet's companions as they were revealed.

It contains 6236 verses, 114 chapters and 30 sections.

The Arabic of the Qur'an is of the highest eloquence, poetry and prose. Muslims regard the Qur’an to be a miracle because of the beauty and depth of its language and teachings, which remain unparalleled. This is also one of the main reasons why Muslims today believe that the Qur'an is the same as was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).

Chapters of the Qur’an

The construction of each chapter is unique. Each contains different messages and narratives that provide moral and ethical guidance, found throughout the Quran.

Each chapter is named. For example, the first chapter is called, ‘al-Fatihah’ (the Opening).

The chapters vary in length and content. 'Al-Fatihah' is a short chapter that is often referred to as the ‘Mother of the Book’ because it summarises the main concepts of Islam - from belief in One God and in His Mercy, to the importance of accountability to Him and the constant need for human beings to be guided.

The second chapter, ‘al-Baqarah’ (the Cow), contains historical incidents relating to Prophet Moses and his followers, the arrogance of people that caused corruption on earth, and some laws relating to contracts, among other things.

The Qur’an Corrects Previous Messages

In addition to continuing the advancement of human perfection, the Qur’an was revealed as a means to correct God’s previous Divine messages that had been altered or corrupted. Hence it is a continuation of the core Divine message of the Bible (the Christian scripture) and the Torah (the Jewish scripture). However, Muslims believe these books were tampered with and so the authentic Divine message became lost.

The Qur’an was therefore revealed to restore basic concepts such as the Oneness of God, the correct laws for humanity to follow and the kind of deeds they should perform in order to become good servants of God. The Qur’an was also revealed to humanity as a whole so that they might reflect on its diverse messages, especially those associated with creation, scientific facts and the past actions of those that corrupted the earth through immorality. This is all included to inspire the reader to reflect on his/her own character and how best to advance society in a positive way.

The Qur’an Today

To date the Qur’an has been translated into over 100 languages, including English, and is recited regularly by Muslims in their homes and mosques. There are many styles of reciting the Qur’an, as well as different forms of artistic and calligraphic writing.

Often verses of the Qur’an are used to beautify homes and mosques. Muslims give special respect to the Qur’an, calling it “Holy”, “Wise” and “Noble”. Many adults and children have memorised the Qur’an, as they believe it is a blessing to do so and can increase their wisdom and piety.

Finally, there are many sciences that have developed in order to further the understanding of the Qur’an. The science of Tafsir (interpretation), in particular, helps us understand why and in what context a verse was revealed and its meaning.

The foundations of religion form the basis from which everything else follows. The tenants of Shi’a Islam can be broken down into two categories:
1. The Principles of Religion Usul al-Din, which outline the essential beliefs in accordance with the Qur’an and the teachings of the Twelve Imams; and